State program expands solar power kilowatt hour by kilowatt hour

Solarize Montague is part of a state-funded effort to reach a goal of 250 megawatts of solar installed by 2017. In that campaign, the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center and the Department of Energy Resources are working with cities and towns across Massachusetts to bring competitively priced solar energy to homes and businesses throughout the Commonwealth.

According to the Clean Energy Center:

∎ Montague is seeing 42 systems installed representing 180 kilowatts.

∎ Palmer is getting 17 systems that will generate 150 kilowatts.

∎ Pittsfield and Lenox together are having 58 systems installed for a total of 465 kilowatts.

∎ Hatfield had participated in the center’s pilot program in 2011. Before the launch of Solarize Massachusetts, Hatfield had five residential systems installed. The town now boasts 22 solar photovoltaic systems generating 147 kilowatts.

∎ The total amount of solar energy being generated from the western Mass area as a result of Solarize Massachusetts is 942 kilowatts of renewable solar energy.

∎ Arlington was the single community with the most contracts signed for the largest capacity, with 157 residents and businesses signing contracts for an expected generation of 718 kilowatts.

HATFIELD — With green energy production being actively promoted by the state, one local business is doing its part to spread the solar gospel. The Hatfield-based NorthEast Solar Design, which provides solar installations for commercial and residential customers around the Pioneer Valley, is in the midst of a year-long project installing 42 solar arrays for homes in Montague. Sally Pick, …